Sometimes the location and the surroundings aren't as beautiful as you wish but the subject you want to photograph is there. Just outside the city limits where I live are some old surface impoundments where they used to dispose sludge. The impoundments are not used by the sewage plant anymore and the birds love these shallow ponds. I have taken a lot of good pictures in this area. The trick is to try to isolate the subject of interest and ony show what you want in the picture. Below are two images of a Wood Sandpiper taken at this location.